BLOOMINGTON, IN - DECEMBER 8: Head coach Howie Dickenman and Adonis Burbage #1 of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils look on against the Indiana Hoosiers during the game at Assembly Hall on December 8, 2012 in Bloomington, Indiana. The Hoosiers won 100-69. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Photo: Joe Robbins, Getty Images

BLOOMINGTON, IN - DECEMBER 8: Head coach Howie Dickenman and Adonis...

Even in an unprepared moment, Anthony Latina is never at a loss for words.

When he was a student at South Catholic High School in Hartford, playing for the legendary Joe Reilly, Latina once received an unexpected award at a banquet. After informing the people at his table he didn't even have a speech prepared, Latina went up and spoke for 30 minutes.

Jodi Latina, Anthony's wife, laughed after she told that story Thursday morning before her husband became only the second NCAA Division I coach at Sacred Heart University and its third at the varsity level.

"(A former coach told me) you have to be true to yourself and your personality," Latina said.

The gift of gab is a key component to the personality Latina brings to the program as he takes the reins from Dave Bike, who retired after 35 seasons with the Pioneers. The 39-year-old Hartford native, who had an agreement in place to take over when the longtime head coach decided to leave, spent eight years with Bike. Over that span, Latina had taken on more coaching and recruiting responsibilities from Bike along with assistant Johnny Kidd.

Officials have already learned how excitable Latina can be during games. To ensure Latina didn't get "T'd up" because of his high energy, the SHU coaches would often talk to officials beforehand and mention Latina's tendencies to leap from his seat shouting instructions at the players while Bike often preferred to remain seated. NCAA rules allow only one coach to stand during games.

"He's a high-energy guy ¦ and I think he will infuse a new level of excitement in the program," said Don Cook, Sacred Heart's executive director of athletics.

Latina only spent 15 minutes thanking his family, friends, the university and everyone else in his acceptance speech Thursday, but he could hardly contain how thrilled he was for the opportunity to finally run a program.

"It was an exciting day," Latina said. "It was different in that so many people reached out with their support, and I think one of the things that makes this special is to see so many people genuinely happy for you and your family. That gave it a different feel ¦ and it's a good feeling."

Past and present Northeast Conference coaches were pleased to see Latina get his first chance as well. Among them were Central Connecticut State coach Howie Dickenman, who had Latina on his staff for six years, attended Thursday's press conference.

Quinnipiac coach Tom Moore unsuccessfully tried to recruit Latina twice, the first time when he was the head coach at Worcester State, but Latina opted to attend Brandeis. Moore also later tried unsuccessfully to hire Latina as an assistant at QU.

"I think it's terrific," said Moore, whose Bobcats move to the MAAC this season. "(Anthony) is a good young coach who has really paid his dues."

Some coaches like to make predictions about how their teams will be under their leadership, but Latina kept that part relatively short, saying only his team would "play unselfish, with energy and enthusiasm." He did add one more thing, borrowing a page from Bike's philosophy.

"We want to win but we're willing to sacrifice wins and loses at the expense of doing what's right for the student athletes," he said.